New Zealand Sociology 16(1) 2001 : 242-250

The purpose of this article is to present an examination of murder-suicide as a progression from domestic violence. Murder-suicide usually occurs in the context of an intimate relationship, with the majority of perpetrators being male, and the victims being their female partners and/or children. During the period 1993 to 1998, New Zealand had 29 murder-suicides cases, in which 63 people died. Murder-suicide is viewed as being at the extreme end on a continuum of domestic violence. In a high proportion of cases, violence characterises the relationship preceding the occurrence of murder-suicide. Most murder-suicides occur in the home, and a firearm is the weapon of choice in the majority of cases. Murder-suicide is discussed as an extreme form of sexual violence in the context of the male's penchant for power and control, and the oppression of women. The author advocates for stringent gun control measures, as firearms play a significant role in converting domestic violence into murder.